Hell's Handbook - Chapter 18: Trivial Matters

Set in the Shadow Slave world...a time before Sunny was born...this story follows a simple soldier who must survive in a dystopian, apocalyptic landscape where magic and gun warfare collide.In a far-off Quadrant known as North America, a young soldier named Hope is 16 years old when he gets infected by the Nightmare Spell. He passed! But...he feels a bit scammed...?A flaw that makes him fade from people's memories...A cursed attribute that makes him remember everything endlessly in eternal wakefulness...It's as if the Spell is twisting his future and existence into an almost improbable one.All he has ever known his purpose to be was to serve as a simple soldier. Not too powerful. But not so weak either. And maybe, just maybe like some others, become an Awakened. Although he never dreamt of being one.Now that his whole life is compromised after his First Nightmare, his first objective is to survive on his own. But as he tries to escape his fate, his actions seem to lead him further from his goal.He struggles against obstacles that slowly grow bigger and out of proportion.Maybe the Dream Realm and the Real World aren't so different than one may think.Hope's journey involves uncovering secrets and gaining knowledge about his true nature and his new role in the world.Is he fit to be a hero?Could he redefine it?***Please read the READER DISCLAIMER in Volume 0.This is my spin-off novel of “Shadow Slave” by Guiltythree.But please don't expect the same writing style, setting, and characters, especially the main character.This story reveals more about how people/cities/governments operate after the Spell’s arrival. I always find it interesting how maybe one country handles it fairly, but how others handle it with desperation to the point that you question humanity.There will be easter eggs pointing to the original novel either intentional for the plot or unrelated to it, but all for fun.I am a new author so props to all who bear with me and helps me improve my writing. If it is not for you, please don't leave outright hate comments. Eat wassabi instead if you want pain. Critique and advice would be great too.

Framed by her family, she had an accident, and found herself pregnant!Five years later, she came back strong, determined to crush those who wronged her and reclaim her child!Her genius son paves the way, swiftly bringing her to the top of the food chain, with influential figures bowing to her!But she never expected that the autistic little girl she unexpectedly met would bring her a troublesome big boss!Before marriage, he holds the little genius's hand, declaring, “Buy a kid, get a dad for free, no deception, unrivaled in punishing scumbags!”After marriage, he kneels on durians with the child, saying, “Sweetie, I'm sorry, our hidden identities have been all exposed...”

Skyler's story was typical. He was publicly labeled a waste with no future as a Light — awakened individuals capable of wielding elemental powers. He thought that would be the end of it. But no, apparently that was not the case.He was teleported to the 'Battle Royal' to fight, even though he had zero powers and his age and potential were 100% ineligible!To make matters worse, he was not even the protagonist or transmigrator! He was just a freaking side character destined to die young in the story! And his death served only one purpose — to bring his sister closer to the protagonist!What a pitiful ending, right?However, unbeknownst to all, he wasn't meant to die but to become the best in two other realms, and they had altered the fate of that powerful King. Yet, there was a tiny problem — he didn't remember how he became overpowered in his past.

In the most cliched fashion, a giant truck-kun smashed into my World, killing everyone with it.

And in the next most cliched event, I was given a second chance in life by the gods to live another life in a world of swords, magic and dragons! It’s literally a dream come true!

Be a hero? Who has the time?! Conquer the world? Like hell I’ll do something so troublesome! Diving into dungeons, exploring ancient ruins and meeting all the weirdos of the world? Sign me right up!!

I’m only interested in travelling the world to find the most interesting materials I can use to write the best story I can! I’ll show you my creativity and dazzle this new world with the stories I’ll write!

I’ll fight with dragons, swim with krakens, wrestle giants, eat all the cakes and bed the beauties! Time to live this life however I want!

Eh?

A psycho is running around the world saying that they are the hero who will slay the demon lord? Why is there such a crazy person?

There’s someone out there threatening the world with nukes? How did they even find out how to make those?

Some crazy hobo is going into other people’s houses to smash pots to look for money? That guy really must be crazy.

What Do You Mean There Are Other Transmigrators In My Harem Fantasy?

***

Notes:

Any R-rated scenes will be denoted by a '*' followed by an 'R' with the number of 'R's showing how much of it is R-rated. '*R' would be around 25%, '*RR' would be about 50% and '*RRR' would most likely be the entire chapter.